THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Sunday, December 18

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

Our vestry, lay leaders, and congregation as we prepare to welcome our new rector; Lainie Murrell, our postulant to the diaconate; Robert and Donna Weber, Gerald and Marjorie Federico, Theresa Weber, John and Shirley Federico, Yasso HerathRick & JoAnn Stone, Lin, Vicki Hudson, Caroline Tucker, Maura McGrath, Pastor Tyler, Phyllis & Bob Holgerson, Sean Murdock, Mureedullah Hashimi, Robert and Eunice Ruffin, Peter Zakrepine. Victims of gun violence everywhere.

If there are names you would like to add to the prayer list, please contact the church office: parishoffice@gracechurchnyack.org/845-358-1297

REFLECTION

For outlandish creatures like us, on our way to a heart, a brain, and courage, Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning - not home but the place through which we must pass if ever we are to reach home at last.

Frederick Buechner in The Magnificent Defeat

THIS WEEKEND

Sunday, December 18 – The Fourth Sunday of Advent

ARE YOU ON THE WORSHIP MINISTRY SCHEDULE? CLICK HERE to check.

Readings available HERE



Collect of the Day

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

8:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite1)

9:30am Family Eucharist (No Church School classes due to 1:00pm Christmas Pageant)

Church school calendar through end of the year is available HERE.

Newcomers and visitors are always welcome

10:15-10:55am  Weekly informal Bible study of the day’s readings,

led by Roy Kepler, in Patterson Hall each Sunday. All are welcome – join us

11:00am Holy Eucharist Rite II Also available via live-stream

Order of service for 11:00am service available HERE

1:00pm Christmas Pageant (outdoors in Memorial Garden)

On Sunday we welcome back The Rev. Judy Ferguson as guest celebrant.

The Rev. Judy Ferguson recently retired from 26 years of active, full-time ministry, most recently as rector at the Church of the Holy Innocents, Highland Falls/St. Mark’s Chapel, Fort Montgomery (21 years). Rev. Ferguson continues to serve as the Episcopal Civilian Chaplain to USMA, West Point (21 years), which is the campus/alumni ministry for Holy Innocents’/St. Mark’s parish. We’re grateful that Mo. Judy can be with us on Sundays through the end of the year as we await our new rector in January.

Rockland County COVID risk has returned to HIGH. For recommended precautions, CLICK HERE.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS

CHRISTMAS MEMORIALS - Deadline is Sunday

Each year as we gather for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, our worship is enhanced by festive flowers and decorations. Your generosity makes this possible. Please join in the time-honored tradition of making a donation for our Christmas celebrations in memory of loved ones or thanksgiving for God’s blessings. Offering envelopes are available at the church entry, or use THIS LINK to make an online donation and leave names in the comments section. Memorial Names must be received by Sunday, December 18 for inclusion in Christmas bulletins.

To register for Light/Mystery on Saturday, December 17, CLICK HERE

We hope you'll join us - All Are Welcome!

PARISH WIDE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Nominations are open for various positions for 2023. We need people to serve as: Vestry Member (3), Convention Delegate (2), Alternate Delegate (2), Nominating Committee Lay (4). Nomination forms may be found in back of the church, at the office or HERE. They are due in the office or to Kickie Fulmor by January 15, 2023.

To be considered for vestry, the nominee must meet the following criteria: Be a confirmed member in good standing, that is, one who regularly attends the worship services, pledges to the parish and is a member of the Episcopal Church either by confirmation or reception. Nominees should also be able to make time commitments for vestry meetings and committee work; vestry retreat(s); congregational events; annual Parish Meeting; and diocesan meetings and workshops, as necessary.

Please prayerfully consider these positions before submitting your name to the committee. Folks cannot nominate another person without their signature! The nominating committee will report its nominations to the vestry and then to the parish.

Kickie Fulmor, Chair of Nominating Committee

STEWARDSHIP & VIRTUAL PLATE

PLEDGE UPDATE

Thank you to all who pledged! We have not yet reached our goal of $340,000 or matched our total pledges from last year so if you would like to pledge, please take a pledge card from the back of the church or CLICK HERE to complete a pledge card online. The 2023 budget that we create based on your pledges — which represent 74% of our income— will determine the resources our new rector has available to lead us into the future.

Our Virtual Offering Plate

Please keep your pledge current!

To help ensure continuity for the church and our outreach programs to the community, please keep your pledge current if you are able, or make one-time donations as you would on Sunday. You can mail a check to us at 130 First Avenue, Nyack, NY 10960 or use our Virtual Offering Plate to make an online gift. Use the drop down menu under "FUND" to choose "Other Gifts" or "Pledge Payments".

PARTING THOUGHT

Observe and contemplate.

Make real. Bring to be.

Because we note the falling tree

The sound is truly heard.

Look! The sunrise! Wait —

It needs us to look, to see,

To hear, and speak the Word.

Observe and contemplate.

The cosmos and our little earth.

Observing, we affirm the worth

Of sun and stars and light unfurled.

So, let us, seeing, celebrate

The glory of Love’s incarnate birth

And sing its joy to all the world.

Observe and contemplate

Make real. Affirm. Say Yes,

And in this season sing and bless

Wind, ice, snow; rabbit and bird;

Comet and quark; things small and great.

Oh, observe and joyfully confess

The birth of Love’s most lovely Word.



— Madeleine L’Engle in Miracle on 10th Street and Other Christmas Writings (2019)